Fire extinguisher



July 12, 1932. Q BORSE-rn 1,866,746

FIRE EXTINGUI SHER Filed Dec. 15, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4` is Q umnumn11+ NA \'\\\\v/A\ 2 In Verl/ZLT.'

July 12, 1939. G. BoRsl-:TTI

FIRE EXTINGUISHER Filed Dec,

l5, .1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED, STATES.

PATENT OFFICE -A' GASPARE Bonsm'rr, or BIELLA, ITALY Fmr. :cxrmaulsmApplication led December 13,1928, Serial No. 325,882, and in ItalyJanuary 10, 1928.

The present invention relates to fire extinguishers, and it comp aises adevice of that class or character in which the delivery nozzle maybeadjusted in the -tank to deliver at will an upward or a downward jet atthe time of use.

The invention further comprises an extinguisher in which a single memberprovides both lthe hammer intended to open or break the reagentcontainer located in the tank and the nozzle for distributing the fireextinguishing jet.

A further object of the invention consists in a lire extinguisher of theabove stated construction'in which a single member is used for mountingin position the reagent-con-` tainer support and the combined nozzleandhammer. l

The invention also comprises means for locking said hammer against undueoperation and for locking the nozzle in either of its operativepositions and for preventing it from being forced out of the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a central section of a fire extinguisher according to theinvention in inoperative position ready for use;

Figure 2 is'a sectional detail on an enlarged scale showing means formounting the combined hammer and nozzle;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a central section of a'modiied construction.

The extinguisher comprises a tank 1 having the shape of a cone andprovided at its mouth with a collar 2 in which is seated the ianged end4 of a tube 4 which extends within. tank l and encloses a bulb 5 ofglass or other suitable material containing a substance capable ofgenerating a gas when said bulb is broken and the contents thereof mixedwith the charge contained in tank 1. The tube 4 has perforations 4 inits side wall and an orifice 4 in its bottom wall 4.

Said tube 4 is'held in position by means of a plug 3 screwed into saidcollar 2, a suitable seal packing 14 being provided.

In plug 3 is mounted to slide, by means of a packing gland 6, anelongated tubular nozzle 7 which extends within tube 4 and reaches apoint adjacent to bulb 5, said nozzle 7 having an outlet 8 outside ofsaid tank and inlet ports 7" inside the tank for the delivery of thecharge therethrough.

- The portion of nozzle 7 located within tank 1 carries a stop memberconsisting of a collar 11 adjacent ports 7 and the portion of saidnozzle enclosed in packing gland 6 is provided with a tapering groove 7which is embraced 60 by a resilient fork 15 engaged in a transverse slot16 formed through gland 6, this arrangement preventing the nozzle fromunduly entering the tank 1 by the eliect of an accidental blow on itsouter end. At a pointV ado5 jacent its outlet 8, said nozzle 7 has anadditional groove 9 adapted to be enga ed by said fork 15 afterthenozzle has bee driven into tank 1 at the time of use.

Fork 15 has a chain 17 or other device 70 connected therewith foreffecting its removal as hereinafter described, and tank 1 is providedwith a handle 13 and may also have a suspension hook 18.

In preparing the extinguisher for use, plug 3 is removed and then theperforated tube 4 is withdrawn from tank 1; afterwhich a chargeconsisting of sodium or other carbon. ate and water is poured into tank1.and then a bulb 5 containing sulphuric acid is in- 80 Serted in tube4, the descent of said bulb in the tube being controlled and damped byplacing a finger over the bottom orifice 4, said bulb finally resting onwall 4" a Then tube 4, with bulb 5 in it, is reinserted 85 in the tankand its flanged upper end 4 is seated in collar 2, and packing washer 14is located in position. Plug 3 having nozzle 7 slidable therein is thenput in position and screwed home in collar 2, with nozzle 7 ex- 90tending into tube 4 and locked against motion by fork 15* engaged withthe tapering groove 7 in said nozzle.

At the time of need, the extinguisher is grasped by the handle 13 andthe end portion 95 l or tip 8 of nozzle 7 is struck a sharp blow againsta resistant body the sloping wall of groove 7- overcoming the resistanceof the v resilient fork 15 so that the nozzle moves inwardly of tube 4until its end strikes bulb 5 100 to ensure the-delivery of the fullcharge in an upward direction.

- In the event the charge is to be directed downwardly, fork 15 isremoved by a pull on its chain 17 immediately before use and thereafterthe device is inverted and nozzle 7 is struck as above described. Thenozzle is thus driven inwardly of tube 4 to break bulb 5 and then isforced outward again by pressure developing within tank 1, its groove 9being no longer engaged by fork 15 which has been removed as described,until its collar 11 engages the packing gland 6of plug 3; the orifice 7of nozzle 7 thus being put in communication with the small end of thetank which is lowermost when the apparatus has been inverted to ejectthe full charge downward under the pressure of the gas generated. l

The described extinguisher has the advantage that a single member isused to form both the nozzle and the hammer intended to break thereagent container, so that a single opening only is provided in the tankwhich may be sealed by conventional packing means, while no added bodyor receptacle has to be welded on the tank to enclose the hammer orsimilar part. However, the invention is not restricted to the use ofsuch a combined nozzle and hammer, its scope being dened by the appendedclaims.

, In the construction of Figure 4, the nozzle 7 and its mounting andoperating means are similar to those described in connection withFigures 1-3, said nozzle having at one end, before, a tip or outlet 8,and a groove near said outlet to receive a removable locking member 15inserted through a slot 16 in gland 6. The nozzle is mounted to slidethrough plug 3 which is secured at the mouth of tank-1, and it is'provided at its lower or inner end with inlet ports 7 and with a stop11.

Inthis construction, however, the said nozzle is ot utilized to breakthe reagent bulb 5, se rate means being provided for Ithis purpose.

.As shown, the bulb 5 is located in a perforated receptacle 20 having aperforated tubular extension 20 that projects upwardly in the tank 1 anda flange 20 that abuts against a depending nipple 22 on the tank bottom;an apertured cap 23 being removably tted on said nipple to introduce thecharge into said tank and also to introduce the bulb 5.

Cap 23 acts both for holding said receptacle 20 in position and forclosing the nipple 22.

A hammer 24 is mounted to move through the aperture in cap 23, and ithas an internal stop 25 preventing it from being withdrawn from saidcap, as well as an outer striking head 24; said hammer being intended tostrike and break bulb 5 when driven into.

tank l'. v

When the hammer head 24 is struck, hammer 24 enters tank 1 and breaksbulb 5, thus 'causing the generation of gas and the operation of theextinguisher.

The nozzle 7 may be held in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 when anupward jet is required, or the fork 15 may be removed asv above desiredto release said nozzle and permit it to be moved outwardly into theposi,- tion shown in dotted lines, with the inlet ports 7 adjacent theplug 3', when a downy ward jet is required.

Tank 1 has preferably the shape of a cone having a generatrix parallelwith nozzle 7 to secure a full exhaust of the charge.

The bore of plug 3 through which nozzle 7 moves is smaller toward collar11 than the collar itself, but is of larger diameter than the nozzle, toprevent said collar from forcing the material of said plug too tightly.against the surface of nozzle 7.

l/Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by United StatesLetters Patent is: 1. A fire extinguisher comprising a tank to contain afire-extinguishing charge 'having a collar secured in its mouth, aperforated support in said tank having a flanged edge removably fittingin said collar,a plug mounted in said collar and engaging said flange tohold the support in position, a reagent container in said support, anozzle mounted to move through said plug and said support and havingoutlet means and a groove adjacent saidV outlet means and also havininlet means, stop means on said nozzle ajacent said inlet means forengaging said plug, and

a resilient member removably mounted in said plug for engagementwithsaid nozzle groove.

2. A fire extinguisher comprising-a tank to contain a fire-extinguishingcharge havinfr a mouth, a perforated support in said tan having afianged edge removably fitting in lsaid collar, a plug mounted in saidcollar -and said first-named groove, and a resilient member removablymounted in said plug for engagement with either of said nozzle grooves.

3. A fire extinguisher comprising avtank to contain a fire-extinguishincharge having a collar secured in its mout a perforated support in Lsaidtank having a anged edge removably fitting in said collar, al plugmounted in said collar and engaging said flange to hold the support inposition, a reagent container in said support, a nozzle mounted to movethrough said plug and said support and having outlet means andy a grooveadjacent said outlet means, and also having inlet means, stop means onsaid nozzleadjacent said inlet means for engaging said plug, said plug'havingl a recess larger than the diameter of said nozzle but smallerthan the stop means carried by said nozzle, and a resilient memberremovably mounted in said plug for engagement with said nozzle groove.

4. In a fire extinguisher comprising a tank to contain a fire-extinguishing charge, a frangible container for a reagent, a perforatedsupport in said tank for said container, and means for fracturing saidcontainer; a nozzle mounted to move through the Wall of said tank andhaving outlet means outside of said tank and inlet means near its endinmeans outside of said tank and inlet means near its end inside of saidtank, said inlet means being adapted to be carried adjacent either saidmouth of said tank or the end of said tank remote from said tank mouth bshifting said nozzle with respect to said tank, lremovable means on saidtank for lockin said nozzle in its position with said inlet meansadjacent to the end of said tank remote from said tank mouth, and meanson said nozzle stopping the same in its Withdrawn position with saidinlet means adjacent to said tank mouthI after said removable lockingmeans .has been removed.

6. A fire extinguisher, comprising a tank to contain afire extinguishingcharge and having a bottom and a mouth, a plug closing said mouth, afrangiblecontainer for a reagent, a perforated support in said tank forsaid container, a nozzle mounted to move through said plug and containersupport, said nozzle having outlet means outside of said tank and inletmeans inside of said tank,

said inlet means being adapted to be carried adjacent either said tankbottom or mouth by shifting said nozzle with respect to said tank, meanson said plug resilientl engaging said nozzle in ino erative position infront of said frangi le container, means on said nozzle cooperating withsaid engaging means to lock said nozzle with its inlet adjacent to thebottom of said tank, and means on the inner end of said nozzle forstopping said nozzle with its inlet adjacent to said tank mouth.- y

7. A fire extinguisher, comprising a tank to contain a ire extinguishingcharge yand having a bottom and a mouth, a plug closing said mouth, afrangible container for a reagent, a perforated support in said tank forsaid container, a nozzle mounted to move through said plug and containersupport, said nozzle having outlet means outside of said tank and inletmeans inside of said tank, said inlet meansbeing ada ted to be carriedadjacent either said tank ottoni or mouth by shifting said nozzle withrespect to said tank, a resilient fork removably mounted in said plug,said nozzle having at a point intermediate its 4length a tapering grooveengaged by said fork in inoperative position of said nozzle in front ofsaid frangible con, tainer, said nozzle having a groove adjacent to itsoutlet to cooperate With said fork to lock said nozzle with its inletadjacent to the bottom of said tank, and means on the inner end of saidnozzle for stopping said nozzle with its inlet adjacent to said tankmouth.

8. A fire extinguisher, comprising a tank to contain a lireextinguishing charge and having a mouth and a bottom remote therefrom, aplug closing'said mouth, a nozzle mounted to move through said plug,said nozzle having outlet means extending outside of said tank and inletmeans inside of said tank, said inlet means being adapted to be carriedadjacent either said tank bottom or mouth by shifting said nozzle withrespect to said tank, a perforated support in said y tank inthe path ofsaid nozzle,'a frangible container for a reagent in said support, meansg for locking said nozzle in an intermediate inoperative position infront of said frangibley container, said nozzle being operative tofracture said reagent container when driven into said tank and todistribute said charge, and means for selectively stopping said nozzlewith its inlet means adjacent either said tank bottom or mouth.

9. In a fire extinguisher comprising a tank to contain a fireextinguishing charge, a frangible container for a reagent, a support insaid tank for said container, and means for delivering said reagent insaid tank; a nozzle mounted to move through the wall of said tank andhaving outlet means outside of said tank and inlet means near its endinside of said tank, said inlet means being adapted to be carriedadjacent either end of said tank by shifting said nozzle with respect tosaid tank, and means for selectively stopping said nozzle with saidinlet means adjacent to either end of said tank.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

GASPARE BORSETTI.

